Episode 10 plunges us into a harrowing chapter of history, where Yamazi's relentless legions descend upon a once-tranquil village, unleashing a carpet of carnage that leaves no heart unburdened and no soul untouched. The revelation that emerges is bone-chilling: the fallen, sprawled in pools of their own lifeblood, were not the innocent victims they initially appeared to be, but rather despicable child traffickers. These monsters had brutally abducted innocent children, shipping them overseas to endure unthinkable hardships as slaves. When the ninja warriors swooped in to liberate the captives, they scattered in a panic-stricken frenzy—except for one boy named Zhai, whose eyes burned with a fierce, unyielding rage, a beacon of defiance amidst the chaos.
Zhai, gripping a sword with a vengeance, began to stab at the lifeless corpses, as if seeking retribution for the atrocities committed against him. Yamazi, taken by Zhai's ruthless ferocity, decided to mentor him, grooming him to become a ninja devoid of mercy. Zhai trained alongside Higan and Mari, yet unlike his peers, he found it a monumental struggle to reign in his seething rage.
In the present day, Mike proposes seeking a more hospitable resting place for Emma than the desolate desert, fearing she might feel abandoned and lonely in her final resting spot. However, Higan adheres to a stern ninja creed: that a ninja, even in death, remains anonymous, requiring neither a grave nor a hometown. Driven by a relentless determination to halt the cycle of madness, Higan vows to terminate Yamazi. The initial step in this quest is to expose the true nature of Auza, utilizing the confidential files that Emma had valiantly hacked into.
The sole predicament lies in the fact that Emma had encrypted the files prior to downloading them, rendering them as inaccessible as a locked vault without the key. Shortly thereafter, the group is blindsided by the revelation that Auza has branded Mike, Higan, Jason, and Emma as members of a terrorist cabal intent on sabotaging its operations. In parallel, we witness Yamazi engrossed in compiling intelligence on power reactors, with the aim of manufacturing an abundance of Gusuko gears for the organization.
Zhai then dispatches his loyal crow, an ominous gesture that Higan promptly recognizes as a challenge to a life-or-death duel. A cascade of memories floods his mind, recalling his rigorous training sessions with Zhai, who ranked among the most lethal ninjas the clan had ever nurtured. Zhai's combat prowess, tactical acumen, and unparalleled stealth are unparalleled, rivaling any ninja within the organization. Despite their current adversary status, Zhai harbors immense respect for Higan, who once rescued him from the brink of death when he had resigned himself to fate.
Whispers circulate that whenever Zhai and Higan formed an alliance, they were an unstoppable force. Similar to Emma, Zhai's upbringing was marked by adversity. Abandoned by his parents to a fate of being devoured by crows, he found solace and camaraderie with Mari and Higan, something he had yearned for with all his heart. When Higan and Mari deserted the organization, it shattered Zhai's heart into pieces, yet, like Emma, he couldn't summon the courage to harm them.
As the episode draws to a close, Higan arrives at the duel's designated locale, greeted by Zhai clad in a menacing new Gusuko gear, steeling himself for their ultimate confrontation. Meanwhile, Mike confronts his superior, disclosing Emma's demise and accusing him of being a mere pawn in Auza's game. Mike endeavors to persuade his boss to take the righteous path and assist him in exposing Auza's true nature, but his pleas fall on deaf ears. When the boss summons reinforcements, Mike is left with no choice but to flee for his life.
